NOVEL NEXT WiWi 3, Chapter 6
Today's Earth date: June 8, 1992
We had another fight last night.
After all the grinding, Horcus is suddenly in a hurry to continue the quest. The rest of us want a break. We're not behind schedule in terms of where other hero parties were at this point, which doesn't make sense to me because we have been so slow, but that's the truth of it.
We voted on whether to relax in Bata a bit longer or to set sail for the Free Continent. Horcus lost. This morning, the inn keeper told us he checked out and left. So, yeah, Horcus disappeared again.
-The Journal of Laszlo the Paladin
"Fergus? Are you in your cabin?"
"I am not," Fergus replied. "Sammy and I popped over to Iomallach to do some shopping. Why do you ask?"
"I was thinking of Blitzing to Gitna to see about those Pages of Power. I'd take Outlawson if you wanted to come."
"If you don't mind going solo, I wouldn't mind skipping a wagon ride. Happy to come if you can't live without my company because, frankly, I see how that could be the case."
Wayne rolled his eyes even though Fergus couldn't see. "I'll be fine."
"Wonderful."
With so much time spent with his party, Wayne found going anywhere alone to be somewhat odd. He could talk to his party any time he wanted via the system, but that wasn't the same as them being there in person, reacting to all the same experiences. Life was more fun with the levity and laughter that only a group of friends could provide.
But, Wayne was a big boy. He could travel alone for one trip.
Blitzing from Maliit to Gitna took two hours. Wayne stopped at some point in the middle to let his mind rest. The nonstop skill activations left him feeling like he was forever in motion, like feeling the movement of a car after a long roadtrip despite being in bed. This was worse, like his mind mentally braced for every Blitz and couldn't let go of the habit.
Gitna was much smaller than Maliit. The heat wasn't as intense, but it was still present. With the town's proximity to mountains and to the Gentle Forest, there were no clay walls or homes here. Everything was built from gray stone with flecks of black, looking as though someone coated each surface in a dash of pepper. The wood from the forest was naturally a deep red. It was so dark, however, that from a distance it looked like a simple dark brown. Wayne had to be quite close for the true character of the wood to be apparent.
The walls around the town weren't as tall as Maliit's, but they were in better condition.
Rather than Blitz all the way into town, Wayne stopped a mile or so away from the eastern gate and walked in. For the first time in a long while, he wasn't rolling into town on the back of a giant insect. This was his chance to be an ordinary citizen for at least part of his visit, and he was excited to take it.
"State your name and business," a chubby but quite imposing guard said when Wayne reached the gate.
"I'm Wayne. The Mayor of Maliit suggested I speak to a gentleman named Barry about purchasing an item from him. I understand his family owns inns in town?"
The guard raised an eyebrow. "You're here to speak to Barry? You're sure that's the right name?"
"I may have misheard, but I'm pretty sure that's right."
After the guards glanced to one another, the same guard spoke again. "Are you sure you're not looking for Henry?"
"Positive."
"It's a bit odd for a grown man to want a meeting with a child, don't you think?"
Wayne cocked his head. "Come again?"
"Barry is a child. It's concerning that your interest lies squarely with him."
"The way I heard it, Barry runs a bunch of inns."
"His parents do, sure," the guard replied. "I think you better come with us."
"...why?"
"It's standard procedure, sir. Nothing to be alarmed about."
For a second, Wayne had a flashback of fumbling through a TSA security checkpoint in his previous life. The guard's words sounded very similar to what he was told before he got back-roomed. Nothing came of it other than a monumental amount of stress. They let him go within the half hour, but it was still unpleasant.
Refusing the guard's request would probably go just as well as refusing a TSA request.
"Sure," Wayne said with a resigned sigh. "Would it help if I was the Zero Hero?"
"Not our place to decide. This way."
Wayne was led to a guard station just inside of the gate and directed to take a seat in a dark, moldy room containing only a small table and two chairs. They patted him down, but all he carried was his sword and a canteen for water. They took both.
Ah, an interrogation room. Lovely.
Still doing as he was told, Wayne sat. The guards promptly closed and locked the door. Though he had no reason to be, Wayne felt his nervousness growing, so he opened his system to keep his mind distracted. One of his translations from the Earth Temple caught his eye:
Project Change Order 3.0.0a:
All Staff Notice: Production of all narrative-driven content to stop immediately.
If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
Due to challenges meeting budgets and milestones, a new Executive Producer has been appointed to oversee and direct all future development. We still fully intend to submit to the Human Universe contest and believe that we can, in fact, win. Thank you for your patience, and thank you for your hard work.
He and Fergus both had paid little attention to the "Human Universe" contest, in light of pressing issues involving fleshmancer ratmen, but now that he read the project change order again, Wayne wondered if that was a mistake.
That was the first and only time they had seen that term used. Was that significant?
Human Universe contest.
Read literally, that certainly sounded like the whole universe was the contest entry, if not that then this world specifically. What were the first dwarves up to? By now, it was obvious that their role as early settlers of this world was at least a partial fabrication. He leaned toward that fabrication being total, but Wayne decided to vet that conclusion thoroughly before sharing it.
People in this world, Fergus included, talked about the first dwarves the way people on Earth talked about the Egyptians or the Aztecs. Suggesting that the history of the first dwarves wasn't actually history, well, Wayne would find it hard to believe that ancient Egypt was a made-up story for some version of a global video game.
No matter how it was framed, he would think the person speaking to him was downright batty. He spent too many years turning the channel when the "aliens built the pyramids" kind of shows came on to fall for that now.
Wayne chuckled to himself. He was trying to protect himself from the same existential crisis he feared for Fergus.
The door finally unlocked. A tall man with broad shoulders and the visible hardness of someone who had been incredibly fit for all their lives entered the room. He wore fine silk garments and was considerably older than Fergus, Wayne guessed, but he looked sharp and serious. A guard followed him, standing by the door while the man took a seat.
"Who are you and what interest do you have in a child?" he asked.
"I'm Wayne, and this is a misunderstanding. I came to buy artifacts from Earth, and the Mayor of Maliit told me to talk to someone in Gitna named Barry. He never mentioned that Barry was a child, and I can certainly see how weird my asking for a child sounds. But that was not my intention."
Taking a deep breath, Wayne reminded himself to talk more slowly and to say less overall. He was letting his nerves run too far ahead of his wits.
"Why not ask for me directly?" the man asked, who Wayne now presumed was Henry, Barry's father.
"Frankly, I expected Barry to be someone like you. That's what I pictured."
Henry steepled his hands and narrowed his eyes. "And you claim to be the Zero Hero?"
"That's me."
"Where is your bug monster? Everyone knows the Zero Hero travels with a giant insect mount."
"I left him in Maliit and came alone. I'm happy to verify my identity. I have letters from leadership in Cuan, Veintuls, and Iomallach saying as much, if you'd like to see them."
"We know you have no such letters on your person."
Wayne flicked through his train menus and bought a new Goods Storage car. "I can grab them."
He placed a Quick Gate directly behind himself and stood.
"Don't move!" the guard yelled, drawing his sword.
"I'll be quick."
"I said, don't move!"
Wayne heard footsteps in the railcar at his back.
"Wayne?" a voice called. Fergus came around the corner and stuck his head through the gate. "I heard yelling. Wait, did you get arrested already?"
"Pretty much immediately. They don't believe I'm the Zero Hero."
"Did you show them the letters?"
"They're in the library."
"I'll go grab them," Fergus said. Before he departed, he looked at the guard and the man at the table. "He's telling the truth, by the way."
The door burst open and three more guards pushed into the tiny room, pointing swords at Wayne.
One yelled at Fergus. "Hands up, and step forward slowly."
Fergus looked down at the railcar beneath his feet. "You are Gitna law enforcement, correct?"
"Yes! By the authority bestowed upon us, step forward and surrender."
"I'm afraid I'm not in your jurisdiction. At any rate, I'll be right back."
The shouting continued long after Fergus disappeared, but none of the guards were brave enough to step through the portal. They only dared to look, not even crossing the threshold of the doorway with their noses.
Fergus returned quickly and handed the letters to a guard near the gate. One snatched the papers while two pointed sword tips at the party's mage.
"Is the trouble serious?" Fergus asked.
"No. Dumb small town stuff is all."
Henry looked past Wayne to Fergus. "We are concerned about your friend's interest in children."
"Oh yeah, Wayne loves children."
Wayne put his face in his hands.
Fergus paled slightly and chuckled nervously. "To clarify, I mean he is fond of them. He doesn't love love them."
"These look legitimate," Henry said, reading the letters while ignoring Fergus. "I'll be right back."
When Henry left, Fergus asked, "Do you need anything else or am I done here?"
"I'm fine."
The guards tensed, as if preparing to pursue Fergus if he departed.
He summoned an earth elemental and parked him in the doorway. Fergus looked around the earthen creature. "This is private property. I hope you understand."
And he left, leaving the earth elemental standing completely still just inside the train car. That bit of drama was unnecessary. Wayne simply closed the Quick Gate, but posting the earth elemental as a guard did make quite a statement, he had to admit.
The door opened, and Henry didn't bother stepping inside. "Let him go," he said. "He's the Zero Hero."
For a moment, the guards hesitated, but they followed orders and left the room. When they were gone, Henry waited for Wayne to step out where a guard waited with the Zero Hero's sword and canteen.
As he led the Zero Hero out of the guardhouse, Henry said, "Maliit is full of strange characters. Folks out there aren't right. If we could start over, I'm Henry. Pleased to meet you."
Wayne shook Henry's hand. "Wayne. I take it you're the Mayor or something of the sort?"
Henry shook his head. "I am a simple businessman."
A businessman who commands town guards to do his bidding. That didn't sound "simple" to Wayne.
"Now, what is it you want from Barry?"
"I am searching for pages from Earth books. I heard that Barry had two, and I'd very much like to purchase them if he is willing to sell."
"I see. Well, Barry is quite fond of the Chosen Heroes. It's quite possible he has what you seek, but a word of warning: I don't think he'll sell. He gets very attached to his things."
Wayne nodded. "And that's fair."
"That won't upset you?"
"Disappointed, yes, but angry? No. I'm not interested in shaking anyone down, let alone a kid."
"Good, good. I'd like you to consider spending a day with him while you're here. I'd compensate you of course."
"For…?"
"Entertaining him," Henry answered. "He would quite enjoy getting to spend time with a celebrity. That's as close to the Chosen Heroes as he's likely to get."
"Right," Wayne said, attempting to disguise how much he disliked the way that was phrased. "Let's see how our talk goes and take it from there."